The Impact of Digital Instability on Interface Design Research

Research Objective: To identify and systematize the factors affecting digital instability in interface research and to explore methods for preserving (archiving) user experience over time to improve the quality of scientific research in this field. Research Methodology: Analysis of previous studies related to digital instability and interface archiving, as well as a comparative analysis of current approaches to preserving digital content. Scientific Novelty. The factors influencing digital instability on interface and user experience research have been identified and systematized. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the problems associated with the disappearance and transformation of digital interfaces, which complicates their research in time, has been conducted. New methodological approaches to interface research that take digital instability into account have been proposed, including focusing research on the designer's work process, clear fixation of the date and version of the research subject, and methods for archiving the user experience of interactive interfaces. Conclusions: Digital instability complicates interface design research, as online and desktop products constantly change or disappear, which can lead to the loss of the research subject even before the scientific work is completed. To improve the quality of research, it is necessary to implement methods of partial archiving, fix important interface elements, and focus on the designer's work process. Archiving digital interfaces is important for preserving them in their original form, which may include saving mockups in stable formats such as PDF, creating screenshots, or recording videos of user interactions with the interface. It is important to clearly fix the date and version of the interface being studied to ensure the possibility of subsequent verification of the results.